Method of and apparatus for loading



W. L. SAUNDERS.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1921- Patented May 16, 1922.

WILLIAM L. saunnmis, or rnnrnrrntn, new ants-Er, nssrenon r0 INGnRsonL-nenn GOEDEPANY, or amen; CITY, new ."rnnsnr, A eonrone'rron or nnwJERSEY.

METHOD OF AND AQPAIFLA'IUS FOR LOADING.

Specification of iettersratent;

Patented May 16,, 1922.

Application filed May 25, 1921. Serial No. 472,483.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM L. SAUNDERS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, a resident of Plainfield, county ofUnion, and State of NewJersey, have invented a certain Method of and Apparatus for Loading, ofwhich the following is a specification accompanied by drawings.

This invention relates to a method of removing broken material from theheading of an entry or tunnel by loading a train of cars from one end ofthe train and also apparatus for carrying out my improve method ofloading;

In mine galleries, sub-levels, entries or tunnels, which are only wideenough to permit a single track for mine cars cbut one car at a time canbe loaded with ore or other material, because the loading by amechanical shoveling or loading device, for instance, is done at theheading from the forward end of the car. The process is more or lessslow, since the loaded car must be pushed or withdrawn from the loadingdevice along-the trackto the tunnel'entrance or other position, whichwill clear the track and permit another unfilled car, or. the same carafter dumping, to be moved intoposition for loading. The mechanicalshovelin and loading machine if one be used, is tius operatedintermittently and valuable time is lost.

The objects of the present invention are to enable an extra train ofcars tobe mechanically loaded from the heading of the train so that whenthe loaded train is moved from the gallery or sub-level, anothercomplete train to be loaded may take its. place. In this way, theshoveling and loading ma chine is operated more continuously and theloading operations consume less time and are more economical to carryout.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear and to all ofthese ends the invention consists of the mode of operation and apparatusforloading a train-0f cars substantially as hereinafter fully describedand claimed in the specification. and shown in the accompanyingdrawings, infwhich Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in longi tudinalsection of a portion of a train of flat cars and apparatus for carryingout my invention. Y

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional plan view of the set of nested carhoppers on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the assembled hoppers looking from theback end of the train towards the hopper doors.

Referring to the drawings, it is to beassumed that the train of carsillustrated as flat cars A, B, C and D, or more if desired, has been runinto the sub-level E of the mine, along the tracks F to the headingready for loading. 'A mechanical shoveling and loading machine of anydesired type (not shown) may be used for loading'the car hoppers andsuch a machine would ordinarily operate in front of the first car A,since there is not suflicient space at the sides of the train in anarrow sub-level for the operation of a me chanioal loading device.

In order to enable my method of loading the train of cars from one endof the train to be carriedout, I arrange a set of car hoppers or bucketsG, H, J and K, onewithin the other. upon thefirst carA of the train. Theuppermost hopper K is then filled with the em or other broken materialto be loaded and transported by suitable mechanical means to theopposite end of the train as indicated in dotted lines in- Figure 1 anddeposited upon the end car, or upon acar at or near that end of thetrain. The method is then continued by filling eachsucceeding hopper orbucket of the set and transporting the filled hopper each time to a caradjacent the one to which :the last preceding filled hopper was transbeprovided for transporting the hoppers along the train, and I prefer todrag or draw the. hoppersalong the car bodies by means of cableconnections shown in the form of. a rope L adapted to be colled'over thedrum or drums of a suitable'hoisting motor located in the gallery. orsub-level at theffarthermost end of the train and preferably hung fromthe roof, or supported in such position that the operation may beconveniently carried out. Such hoisting or transporting outfit is not.shown but the lengths ofthe rope L are shown converging '-towards the"point at which the power is --applied. 1

. In 'order, to facilitate the assembling or nesting of the loosehoppers in a'pile, one within the other, upon the firstcar A of thetrain, these. hoppers are preferably.con-

structed with converging or tapered sides as indicated in plan view inFigure 2, and the hoppers are provided with hinged end doors, 0, P, Qand R, so that by leaving the hinged ends 0, P and Q open as indicatedin Figure 1, the hoppers may be as sembled endwise one within the otherwith the door R of the uppermost hopper closed and latched by thelatches S in readiness for filling. Lugs T at the sides of the hopperspermit the attachment of one end of the rope L for hauling purposes andlugs U at theopposite ends of the hoppers permit the attachment of theother end of the rope L, which rope passes over the pulley V. Theattachment of the rope to a lug U of a lower hopper while an upperhopper is being withdrawn from the pile, serves to hold the remaininghoppers in position on the car A.

Each car body is preferably provided with a series ofrollers W and thebottoms of the hoppers are preferably provided with longitudinal guidesX and transverse rollers Y and Z at each end respectively. In drawing ordragging each filled hopper along the tops of the car bodies, thelongitudinal guides X cooperate with the rollers l/V on the cars and theguide rollers Y and X on the hoppers facilitate the assembling of thehoppers and also permit the hoppers to roll one within the other.

In order to more firmly anchor the hopper Gr on the first car A, pins ormay be inserted through the lugs Z) extending from the bottom of thehopper, and into apertures in the car bolster c, and such pins may beutilized for anchoring filled hoppers upon cars of the train. Bridges inthe form 0]": plates 03 may be provided. for bridging the spaces betweenthe bolsters of the cars. The ends or car doors, 0, P and Q, as shown,bridge across the space between the first and second cars and aremovable shoe or block 6 is preferably provided on the Car 13 to forman abutment for one or more of the car doors in order to further anchorand prevent the unfilled hoppers from moving when a filled hopper iswithdrawn.

In the operation of the apparatus described, let it be assumed that thecar hoppers, G, H, J and K have been assembled as indicated in Figure 1,and that the first or uppermost hopper K has been filled. Upon startingthe winding or;hoisting apparatus, adapted to be connected to the ropeL, the filled hopper R will be withdrawn from the assembled set ofh0ppers and will be dragged or pulled along the rollers W on the tops ofthe cars and may be deposited upon a car at or near 'the opposite end ofthe train, as desired.

The end gate or door Q of the last hopper J will then be closed, thehopper will be filled; and the rope L will be adjusted to withdraw saidhopper from the set. In such case the connection of one end of the ropeL to the lug U ofone hopper will be changed to another lower hopper. Theoperation of filling and withdrawing the hoppers is continued until thecars of the train are provided with filled hoppers and then the en tiretrain is run out of the sub-level or gallery in filled condition. Thecars may be dumped in the usual manner or otherwise emptied and thehoppers may be assem bled by hand or the operation of the power actuateddevice may be reversed and the hoppers drawn one within the other inassembled position by mechanical power.

I claim:

1. The method substantially as herein described of removing brokenmaterial from the heading of an entry or tunnel by loading a train ofcars from the heading end of the train, which consists in arranging aset of nested hoppers or buckets on the car nearest the heading inposition to be loaded successively by a mechanically operated loadingmachine, and drawing the hoppers or buckets as loaded one by one fromthe heading end of the train to the rear of the train.

2. The method substantially as herein described of loading a train ofcars from one end of the train, which consists of arranging a set of carhoppers one within the other upon the first car of the train, thenfilling the uppermost hopper with material to be loaded and transportingsaid filled hopper to a car at the opposite end of the train, andcontinuing to fill each next succeeding hopper of the set and transportthe filled hopper each time to a car adjacent the one to which the lastpreceding filled hopper was transported, until but one filled hopperremains upon the first car and the cars of the train are occupied byfilled hoppers.

The method substantially as herein described of loading a train of carsfrom one end of the train, which consists in arranging a set of carhoppers one within the other upon the first car of the train, thenfilling the uppermost hopper with material tobe loaded and drawing saidfilled hopper along the tops of the car bodies to a car at the oppositeend of the train and continuing to fill each next succeeding hopper ofthe set and draw the filled hopper each time along the tops of the carbodies to a car adjacent the one to which the last'preoeding filledhopper was drawn,

until but one filled hopper remains on the first car and the cars of thetrain are occupied by filled hoppers.

4-. The method substantially as herein described of loading a train ofcars from one end of the train, which consists in arranging a set of carhoppers one within the other upon the first car of the train, the numberof hoppers corresponding to the number of cars in the train, thenfilling the uppermost h0pper with material to be loaded and transportingsaid filled hopper to a car at the opposite end. of the train, andcontinuing to fill each next succeeding hopper of the set and trans portthe filled hopper each time to a car adjacent the one to which the lastpreceding filled hopper was transported until but one filled hopperremains upon the first car and the cars of the train are occupied byfilled hopers. p 5. The method substantially as herein described ofloading a train of cars from one end of the train, which consists inarranging a set of car hoppers one within the other upon the first carof the train each hopper having a hinged end, the said hinged end of theuppermost hopper being closed and the said ends of the remaining hoppersbeing open, and all facing to the rear in the direction of the length ofthe train, then filling the uppermost hopper with material to be loadedand drawing said filled hopper from the set along the tops of the carbodies to a car at the opposite end of the train, then continuing toclose and fill each next succeeding hopper of the set and draw thefilled hopper each time along the tops of the car bodies to a car adjacent the one to which the last preceding filled hopper was drawn, untilbut one filled hopper remains upon the first car and the cars of thetrain are occupied by filled hoppers.

6. In apparatus for removing broken material from the heading end of anentry or tunnel, the combination of a train of empty cars, hoppers orbuckets nested on the car nearest the heading in position to be loadedby a mechanically operated loading machine, and means for drawing saidhoppers or buckets from the heading end. to the rear of the train.

7. Loading apparatus for loading a train of cars from one end of thetrain, comprising a set of loose car hoppers each having a hinged endand adapted to be nested in a pile one within the other upon the firstcar of the train, and power actuated means for transporting the hoppersas filled one after another in succession from the set of cars along thetrain until the cars are occupied by filled hoppers.

8. Loading apparatus for loading a train of cars from one end of thetrain, comprising a set of loose car hoppers each having a hinged endand rollers at the bottom of the hopper, said hoppers being adapted tobe nested in a pile one within the other upon the first car of the trainwith the upper hopper closed and the hinged ends of the remaininghoppers open, and power actuated means for dragging the hoppers asfilled one after another in succession from the set to the cars alongthe train until the cars are occupied by filled hoppers.

9. Loading apparatus for loading a train of cars from one end of thetrain, comprising a set of loose car hoppers each having a hinged endand guides and rollers at the bottom of the hoppers, said hoppers beingadapted to be nested in a pile one within the other upon the first caroi the train with the upper hopper closed and the hinged ends of theremaining hoppers open, rollers on the car bodies, with which the guideson the hoppers are adapted to cooperate, and power actuated means fordragging the hoppers as filled one after another in succession from theset to the cars along the train until the cars are occupied by filledhoppers.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

WILLIAM L. SAUNDERS.

